As it turns out, the Cleveland Cavaliers only suspended big man Andrew Bynum for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. The catch is that the center, who signed as a free agent this summer, won't be asked to return to the team, meaning he's essentially on paid leave, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
NBA news roundup: Andrew Bynum gets paid despite exile
The Cleveland Cavaliers suspended Andrew Bynum for a game, but he will now be paid despite being dismissed from team activities.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Bynum trade proposals
Fear the Sword looks at viable trade options for the Cavs That means Bynum missed out on one game’s worth, or $111,000, of his salary this season. He signed a two-year deal with Cleveland this summer but only half of the first year’s $12.3 million salary is guaranteed.
The restriction was brought on by Bynum’s knee issues that kept him out of basketball for the entirety of the 2012-13 season, but in the last several weeks, Bynum has made the Cavs question his commitment to the team, according to ESPN. The final blow reportedly occurred during Friday practice, leading to what the team called an indefinite suspension.
Apparently, that suspension is only by technicality at this point. Now, he’ll be paid to sit out until he is either waived or traded, though as of Cleveland’s game on Sunday, Bynum’s presence hasn’t been completely erased from the team.
Andrew Bynum still in pregame video & his photo is still with other #Cavs players portraits on wall down hall from locker room.
— M.S. Boyer/J. Valade (@PDcavsinsider) December 29, 2013 Nash a few weeks from update
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash is still two or three weeks from being reevaluated for a potential return from a nerve issue in his back, according to ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin.
Nash did, however, join the Lakers to work on some shooting by himself, according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News.
“There’s no update,” D’Antoni said, according to the Daily News. “It looks kind of odd seeing him over there. I don’t know what he’s doing. It’s some Canadian stuff that he does.”
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Meanwhile, fellow point guard Steve Blake, who has missed the last nine games with an elbow injury, is considered four weeks from returning.
Carmelo’s ankle sprain makes status murky
The New York Knicks' offense has been in the doldrums without Carmelo Anthony, and for the time being, coach Mike Woodson will need to push forward without his star. Woodson remained hopeful Anthony could join the team during a three-game road trip in Texas that begins Thursday, but teammate J.R. Smith said about Anthony's ankle that "apparently it's extremely bad," according to Newsday.com.
“His ankle’s bad enough where he can’t play,” Woodson said. “So we just got to go with that, and when he’s ready to get back out on the floor, he’ll let us know and the medical people will guide us in that area as well. If he can’t run and jump because of his ankle, he needs to nurse it back and get it ready to go, and then he’ll let us know.”
As of now, there’s no timetable for Anthony’s return. The Knicks have lost three games without Anthony by an average of 18.7 points.
Knicks discussing Jeremy Tyler?
The New York Knicks have had internal discussions about re-signing young big man Jeremy Tyler, according to sources of the New York Post. The center played with the Knicks in the summer league and training camp but has been rehabbing a stress fracture in his foot with the Knicks’ D-League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks.
Tyler would add depth to a thin frontcourt, and New York could sign him to two 10-day contracts beginning on Jan. 5, then decide whether or not to ink him for the remainder of the season. If signed before Jan. 5, Tyler would earn a fully guaranteed deal as of Jan. 10. If signed, the Knicks could continue to assign Tyler to Erie if they so choose.
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But to add Tyler to the roster, New York must open a roster spot. The most likely candidate to be cut is guard Chris Smith, according to ESPN New York's Ian Begley. The brother of Knicks guard J.R. Smith was signed to a guaranteed contract that has already been paid to him.
Solomon Hill assigned to D-League
Rookie Solomon Hill, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2013 draft, has been assigned to the Indiana Pacers' D-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. According to the Indianapolis Star, the decision was actually a result of Hill asking for such an assignment -- both coach Frank Vogel and general manager Kevin Pritchard agreed with the idea.
“He came back and said, ‘I want to play. I want to go down and play,’ ” Vogel said of Hill. “So this is our decision but it’s his decision wanting to get better. It speaks a lot about who he is.”
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Hill averaged 1.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, but after playing in 16 games was completely relegated to the bench with Paul George, Lance Stephenson, Danny Granger and even Orlando Johnson earning time at the shooting guard and small forward slots.
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